Frank, I have a close friend who is Ismael Muslim (follower of the Aga Khan. He has experienced discrimination. We met yesterday to discuss business but he was saying even his Professor (he is doing a doctorate) he feels is discriminating against him. He always talks of the Koran as being a book of Peace.

When I repeat that last statement I get derided for saying that.

I did hear on radio while driving this week a commentator who said he had taken a course on racism. He thought he was completely free of racism when he started the course but he said he learned quickly from the exercises that we ALL profile – whether by race, dress, or other differences (fem guys). We unconsciously do that.

One of my best friends for years was black, raised in Louisiana who came to Toronto in 1964 but still had a bit of southern drawl. He and I often discussed this topic focused on blacks and/or gays. He was always observing subtle times when people profiled him. One day Arnold and I were walking on Yonge Street and I thought I really felt comfortable with all blacks but we came across half a dozen blacks hogging the corner where we had to go to cross the street. I shared with my friend that I tensed up as I sensed by accent and some words they might be gang members. He said he would do the same in similar circumstances and that that did not make me racist.

Today, again on the car radio I heard the former Chief of Police for Detroit talk about the training he made his force go through and despite the large poor black population and the number of shootings in Detroit hte police force there had never had a shooting by a policeman. He said twice a year his force rotated through training sessions which included role playing de-esculation of confrontational situations and role playing different ethnic and race confrontations. He said it was amazing how you could reduce fear and profiling if you had practiced it enough.

I have focused on race rather than religion but I think the situation is the same. I have found the more someone knows a gay person and knows them rather well, the less homophobic they are. I grew up where the slaves entered Canada on the underground railroad – there was still a building when we moved there (just a few doors from our house) where they had shelter after crossing the river into Canada. There was a prominent black family there whose surname was so similar often people thought my name was McCurdy. I think being exposed like that was why one of my best friends was black, my partner is Filipino, and another two of my best friends are Muslim.

I think the unholy anti-Christian Trump has let loose much underlying anti-Muslim fear by talking of terrorists as he talks of rapists and drug dealers.

This week I received five ‘forwarded’ items all dealing with islamophobia. Â Three were the same forwarded messages from different areas of Canada/USA.Â It still amazes me that people seem to not be able to differentiate between Islam, the religion, and Islamic Fundamentalism, the political highjacking that has been so evident in the past decade or so.Â Is this the “New Anti-Semitism” of the 21st century? The term â€śislamophobiaâ€ťÂ is used for all kinds of different forms of discourse, speech and acts about Islam and Muslims, such as discrimination,Â aversion to Islam and Muslims; anti-Muslim rhetoric, derogatory attitudes towards Muslims, criticismÂ of Islam, socio-economic disadvantages to Muslims, exclusion of Muslims, anti-Islamic racism, verbal insults to Muslims based on appearance,Â physical acts of aggression against Muslims and their symbols (e.g. mosques) etc. Iâ€™m concerned about the growing anti-Muslim sentiment that can be seen here in North America and across Europe. The practices, referred to by the term islamophobia go back a long time in Â history, but has intensified since the 1990s, as more Muslims have come to live in our part of the world and also terrorist activities have taken place.Â In the aftermath of Â the recent terrible terrorist attacks in Paris, Istanbul, Dhaka, and elsewhere, Muslims have experienced more verbal assaults, discrimination, physical violence and death threats.

Some people might not understand why I as a Christian am concerned about how Muslims are spoken about and treated.

I have two main reasons for this concern. First, I believe Muslims are people, created by my heavenly Father, in His image and for an eternal relationship with Him.Â I believe that Jesus died for the salvation of all men, not only for Christians, but also for Muslims. I believe God loves Muslims as much as He loves me. I want to live in accordance with the Word of God, in which God gives His people clear guidelines about how we should deal with our neighbors. Among other things, we should love them, pray for them, forgive them; serve them; live in harmony with them; seek their welfare; provide for them; be hospitable to them,Â speak kindly about them; treat them as I would like to be treated etc.

The second reason is that I am concerned about how many Christians share this anti-Muslim mindset. Â Most Christians would not paint insulting texts on walls in mosques, or speak angry words to women wearing a headscarf in the streets, or physically attack Muslims or set fire to their houses, but in their thoughts and when speaking about Muslims among each one another, there often is the same anti-Muslim rhetoric that we read in the newspapers on from extreme right-wing political parties.

I am concerned by the number of Christians that share the negative perception of Muslims is prominent.Â Many Christians consider Islam as anti-democratic and anti-western, and view Muslims with suspicion, believing them to be violent individuals who are supportive of terrorism (if not verbally, than certainly in their hearts).

I am concerned that Christians, who rejoice in, and sing about the love of God in their Sunday services, can be so judgmental, harsh, and prejudiced, and negative about Muslim during the week.

I am concerned that Christians who thank God for the variety seen in His nature and Church, stereotype Muslims, failing to see how unique each Muslim is, and failing to see the variety of ways they express their religion.

I am concerned that Christians, who singÂ â€śAmazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like meâ€¦â€ťÂ find it impossible to extend this grace to Muslims, as if Muslims have to earn our grace to them by behaving the way we do, learning our language and cultural values. We should not attach strings to passing on grace to Muslims, because we have received grace freely.

Thatâ€™s why I donâ€™t understand islamophobia, particularly when expressed by followers of Jesus, who said:Â â€śBlessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.â€ťÂ (Matthew 5:9).

Making peace is hard work, and might need to begin with overcoming islamophobia in our own hea